Carlos Manuel Rodrigues Machado Autonomic Ubiquitous Computing

the inhabitant’s routes, in the home, and with that information try to predict the location of users to
improve energy savings and increase inhabitant’s comfort. The Mavhome network is divided by
zones and with a centralized server (main cluster) that processes all the information. The zone
topology helps in the location and association in specific user tasks [Roy et al. 2003].
The NavHome research achieved good results on predicting the user’s actions but because of
the technology used and the centralized processing of data the intelligence acquired cannot be
embedded in the environment in an autonomic way.
PlaceLab
The PlaceLab 2 is a real home where the routine activities and interactions of everyday home
life can be observed, recorded for later analysis, and experimentally manipulated. Volunteer
research participants individually live in the PlaceLab for days or weeks, treating it as a temporary
home and at same time, in background, a detailed description of their activities is recorded by
various sensor devices integrated into the labs architecture. PlaceLab facility is a 93 m 2 foot lab
consists of a living room, dining area, kitchen, small office, bedroom, full bath and half bath. The
interior of the PlaceLab is formed by 15 prebuilt and reconfigurable cabinetry components. Each
contains a microcontroller, an addressable speaker system, and a network of 25 to 30 sensors.
New sensors can be easily added to this network as required. Existing sensors record a complete
audio-visual record of activity. All sensing devices are discreetly integrated into the cabinetry,
appliances, and furniture and fixtures [Intille et al., 2004]. Interior conditions of the apartment are
captured using distributed sensors to measure: temperature (34 sensors), humidity (10 sensors),
light (5 sensors), and barometric pressure (1 sensors). The PlaceLab also features electrical current
sensors (37 sensors), water flow (11 sensors) and gas flow (2 sensors). Small wireless sensors that
detect movement can be also be taped onto any movable objects or worn by the participant with
wrist bands or ankle bands [Intille et al., 2003], [Tapia et al, 2004a].
1 HomeSeer is a home automation software and pack of hardware solutions. More information available on-line at:
http://www.homeseer.com/
2 Available on-line at http://architecture.mit.edu/house_n/placelab.html
- 13 -